It is a simple fact that, in today’s society, we need to be connected. We may travel to get away from work, but most of us will still check our email and Facebook, stream media, and use our smartphones or tablets while we travel. At the very least, it helps to be able to check in for flights or see when you’re going to be delayed. Not all airports have free wifi, but now there’s a possible solution.
Wandering Around Brussels
Despite being in the headlines lately for all of the wrong reasons, Brussels is still an interesting place to visit. An easy 2 hour train ride from Amsterdam, this charming city lies in the heart of Belgium and is home to the European Union’s unofficial capital.
Gebroeders Hartering
Do you know how I know that Gebroeders Hartering is a good restaurant? If you search for them on Google, their website is the 5th result listed, after all of the Yelp, Trip Advisor, The Fork, and other rating websites. This little restaurant is a true gem. Tucked away on a side street on the east side of the city, overlooking a canal, even the taxi driver didn’t know where it was. The first problem was that I kept calling it “The Brothers Hartering” which is technically how it’s translated, but it confused the guy. But it’s also a fairly small venue, so he had to stop and ask someone where it was. As for the restaurant itself, make a reservation and go. It’s worth it.
Emergency Contact Information
This is one of those topics that nobody wants to think about until it’s too late: Emergencies. What happens if you’re traveling and something happens? In fact, what happens if you’re on your way to work in your own home town and something happens? Not all emergencies will wait until you’re safely out of the country. Do you have all of your medical information readily available? What about your emergency contact information? Sure, you may have it all safely stored in your head, but what if you’re unconscious? Who’s going to tell the paramedics that you’re allergic to penicillin?
Amsterdam Itinerary
I just returned from a trip to Amsterdam and Brussels. I’m going to post some extended details about some of the stuff we did, but for now, here’s the itinerary for the Amsterdam portion of the trip. Feel free to use this as a starting point for your own planning!
Jet lag
Ask any traveler what they hate most about long flights and one of the most common answers isn’t the cramped seats or the crying baby two rows back, but jet lag. If you’re flying from North to South or just crossing one time zone or two, jet lag’s no big deal. But for long hauls, a bad case of jet lag can ruin the first few days of your trip. Some people can fly from Los Angeles to Spain without a hiccup in their sleep patterns, but most of us have to suffer with jet lag for at least a few days. In some cases, you’re just barely getting over jet lag when it’s time to return home! But here are a bunch of ideas, tips, and tricks that can help you avoid jet lag in the first place or recover from it faster.
Flight Facts
I recently learned a few new facts and tips about flying that I wanted to share with you guys. Some of these are things I hope I’ll never need to know, some are things that may impact my next flight.
Travel Money- Getting the most for your buck
With all of the recent hullabaloo about the Brexit, I watched the exchange rate for dollars to pounds or euros slowly drop. Since I’m also starting to plan my next trip to Europe, it got me thinking about whether to buy a bunch of euros now so I’m ready for the trip and so I get a better rate than I otherwise would. I did a little digging, and I learned a few things about what and what not to do when you’re dealing with foreign currencies.
Airfare- Skiplagged
I recently wrote a post about airfares and some tricks to get a cheaper fare than what’s advertised on the airline’s sites. I’ve had a few readers reach out to me to tell me about a website called SkipLagged that I’d completely forgotten about.
Airfare- Money-saving tips and things to watch for
Most of the time, your airfare will be one of the biggest single line items in your travel budget. Getting a good deal on your airfare could make the difference between taking one trip this year or two, but the airlines certainly don’t make it easy.